It’s odd to realize that I’m not an American until I open my mouth. Even then, to some people, the accent still isn’t enough to classify me as such. To be “American” is still embedded in being white. You may protest here. I would protest myself in other circumstances. But at the reactive gut level for many people, …
Monthly Archives: October 2009
Ode to Lost Things
I’ve left a trail of myself all over New Zealand. My gray Westmont zip-up hoodie in Auckland, my bright orange ear plugs scattered one by one in a range of hostels from north to south, my cold blue ice pack in Wanaka, and now, my trusty black wallet wandering somewhere between Oamaru and Lake Tekapo. Not to …
On the quandary of color
The shores of Lake Tekapo Latitude: 44″ 00′ 06.95 S Longitude: 170″ 28′ 49.25 E Blue is the color of this lake. That’s a lie. It’s green. Greenish-blue. Um. Teal? Sky is the colour of this lake. A greener version of the sky. This colour’s lightness belongs in the sky, not held down on earth, trapped in this lake. But if …
On Fern and Scott
On choosing a hostel Fern: Not a Magic bus hostel! Book exchange! Scott: Free soup! Free cake! On shops that get us excited Fern: Bookshops! Art stores! Scott: Honey shop! Ice cream! BAKERY! On what to do in Nelson Fern: World of WearableArt museum! Scott: Beer tasting! On hikes Fern: Cool tree! I want a picture of it! Scott: Cool …
Things that bring me joy!
Bunny butts (that is, the flash of their white tails as they hop around) A patch of blue sky and the sudden emergence of sunlight after constant clouds and rain Seeing Ferns in company names and logos everywhere in NZ Meaningful connections with strangers no matter how brief Separating from the Magic Bus by means of a different hostel …
Fern Speak.
In other words, what a few packed days and poor-sleep nights produce. This is a sampling of what I said over the course of our lunch stop: So today I’m more…Words failing oh waitYeah, that is– I’m done. Well, I think it’s justOr maybe– ngaaaaagh!! I’m done. I’ve been recently being – *giggle!*It’s just not working. May Scott be blessed by a babel …